The business climate locally has
been especially harsh on new businesses and some old businesses
during recent years, resulting in fewer shopping and service choices
for area residents.

As many as 36 or more businesses
have come and gone in the Williamston area in the last five years,
with the closing of the Winn Dixie grocery store being the most
recent and most noticeable.

The announcement that Regions Bank
will be closing their Williamston branch later this year continues a trend.

Some local businesses which have
been in Williamston for many years have closed or sold out due to the
owner retiring or for other reasons. Others have left, reopening in
other locations. Several have been replaced by new businesses.

During recent years, for one
reason or another, the following changes have taken place:

Three furniture stores have closed
including Badcock Furniture, G. F. Tolly & Son Furniture and a
store that operated in the Tolly location for about one year, The
Furniture Store. There have been no new furniture stores open locally
to serve the needs of the area.

Several businesses have closed for
other reasons including Maries Beauty Salon, Bradys
Barber Shop (sold to another owner), Anns Styling, Knots
Landing, and Lyns Floral, Special Touch and Bobbies
Kiddie Korner.

Professional services and lenders
that were located in the area include Arflin Insurance, Blue Ridge
Computer, Albright & Associates, Kentucky Finance, Sunset
Mortgage, Mortgage Connection, Blake Holliday Insurance, and Duke
Power payment center.

Other services that are no longer
in the area include Teal Photography (relocated to Piedmont),
Trevares Printing, and Nicks Car Wash (replaced with
Williamston Lube).

The most recent store to close was
Coles Family Healthcare, which has been a Main Street store
front for many years. Others include a wedding supply store, game
room and hair salon located on East Main St. next to PCs On Main.

PCs On Main, Williamston
Mayor Phillip Clardys restaurant, opened last year and has been
closed since June of 2005. Clardy recently told The Journal he
intends to reopen and expand into the building next door.

A small retail type strip center
located on Hamilton St. at the town limits was to house several new
businesses. Constructed with the promise of sewer and water services
from the town, it has remained vacant for a number of years because
the towns former and present leaders have not solved the problem.

Not all is bad news though,
several replacement businesses have opened and appear to be doing well.

Businesses that have opened
include Fiesta Mexican Restaurant, The Water Wheel, China One,
Curves, I Dont Know, The Bargain Corner Store, Freds, EnMark
(new upgrade), Our Place (new owner), and Guss Mustang Grille.
More recently Dominos Pizza, a new spa, Ragsdales Home and
Garden, and a skate board store have opened in Williamston. Survivors
Gym relocated from Hwy. 29 to Town Square Center in Williamston.

Spinx recently announced they plan
to open a new gas station with a convenience store and restaurant at
the corner of Hamilton St. and Greenville Dr. in Williamston.

Pelzer and West Pelzer have seen
several new businesses open including a Mexican restaurant at the old
Roddys location, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Aarons. Two
other stores in the Tri-City Plaza, Family Dollar and The Blue Jean
place, continue to operate. Advance Auto relocated from the
center to a stand alone location beside KFC.

The Bargain Grocery store that was
located in the center relocated to a new building across the river in
south Greenville County and appears to be doing well.

The relocations have left large
commercial buildings empty in Pelzer and Williamston.

A shopping center located on
Beaverdam Road remains empty after many years, leaving plenty of
retail opportunity for the stores with the right product mix.

Several longtime business owners
say they are struggling but that they plan to continue to serve the area.

Town officials and business
leaders are awaiting word on a SCDOT transportation enhancement grant
which will help fund a project to improve Williamstons downtown
and Main Street area.

Members of The Greater Williamston
Business Association are hoping the grant will be the start of a
revitalization effort for the town.

Statistically, advisors say the
first year of business is the toughest for startups to survive.

Christmas
parades, holiday events usher in the season

If you are looking for special
holiday events that bring back memories of an old fashioned
Christmas, look no further than Piedmont, Pelzer, West Pelzer and
Williamston. All three area towns are gearing up for the holidays
with Christmas parades and other special events to enlighten this
holiday season.

One of the first special events is
a Holiday Fair hosted by the Town of Pelzer on Friday, December 2
from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Pelzer Gym. There will be vendors
offering a variety of Chistmas items, door prizes, and refreshments.
Anyone planning to attend can bring a non-perishable food item to
benefit a local food pantry. Proceeds from the event will benefit the
Pelzer Youth Recreation. For more information, contact Pelzer Mayor
Kenneth Davis at 947-1485 or Heather Holcombe at 947-2814.

Saturday, Dec. 3, at 3 p.m., the
Town of West Pelzer will hold their Fourth Annual Christmas Parade
which will be extended this year to include Pelzer.

There is no fee for entries in the
parade, which West Pelzer Mayor Peggy Paxton said she expects to be
the towns largest yet.

The parade will begin at the West
Pelzer Fire Department and end at Courtney St. in Pelzer. Call West
Pelzer Town Hall at 947-6297 for information and to sign up entries
in advance. Trophies will be awarded in 10 different categories.

The annual Piedmont Christmas
Parade, presented by the Bonnes Amies Club, will honor area veterans
on Saturday, December 10 at 11 a.m.. It will have the theme
Christmas Treasures.

All area veterans are invited to
ride in the parade and will be honored by a luncheon at the First
Baptist Church Social Hall.

Veterans should plan to meet at
10:00 a.m. in the parking lot of SunTrust Bank in Piedmont. For
additional information call Betty White at 845-5543.

Winter Fest will be held in
downtown Piedmont on December 10, following the Christmas Parade.
Holiday related activities will be held from 11a.m. till 4 p.m. in
the Piedmont Community Building.

Included will be photos with Santa
from 2 to 4 p.m. and holiday music provided by the Wren Elementary
chorus and Sue Cleveland Elementary chorus. The Woodmont High School
Dance team will also perform.

Crafters from across the upstate
will offer items such as handmade jewelry, baked goodies,
personalized poetry, hand painted wood crafts, paintings, crocheted
items, and much more. Winter Fest is sponsored by Pride In Piedmont.

Also on December 10, the Town of
Williamston will host their annual Christmas parade at 3 p.m.

The theme will be Keep
Christ in Christmas. There is no fee to enter, Just bring
plenty of candy, organizer Walt Smith said. The parade will
start at the traffic light at Hamilton St. and Greenville Drive and
will end at Calvary Baptist Church. For more information or to sign
up, call 847-7473.

Deck the Halls at the
Williamston Municipal Center will feature themed decorated Christmas
trees. The event is part of a holiday Open House held at the
Municipal Center during the month of December and can be seen during
regular business hours.

The Town of Williamston will also
host the Christmas Park during December. Santa will be in the
scout hut in Mineral Spring Park from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly through
December 23. Photos with Santa will be offered by Laurie Phillips of Belton.

Organizer Bennie Hyder said she is
planning to schedule live holiday entertainment in the park during
the month of December and will welcome any church, school or other
group to perform their Christmas play or musical.

Area schools and churches are
invited to join the festivities by having their choir or choral group
perform this holiday season at the Christmas Park.

Performances will be presented on
the Amphitheatre stage which will be decorated for Christmas. The
events are being organized this year under the theme Keep
Christmas Alive, Hyder said.

For more information on any of the
Williamston events call Hyder at the Williamston Municipal Center at
(864) 847-7473.

West
Pelzer parade
to include Pelzer

The Town of West Pelzer will hold
their Fourth Annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 3, at 3
p.m. This year the parade will begin in West Pelzer at the West
Pelzer Fire Department and continue through Pelzer ending at Courtney
St., organizers said.

There is no fee for entries in the
parade, which West Pelzer Mayor Peggy Paxton said she hopes will be
the towns largest yet. Entries should gather at the West Pelzer
Fire Department for lineup prior to the parade. Trophies will be
awarded for first place in 10 different categories. Call West
Pelzer Town Hall at 947-6297 for information.

Court
hearings open to public

By Stan Welch

Anderson County Chief
Magistrate Nancy Devine has confirmed that it is the policy of the
court system to hold open hearings, despite the barring of a reporter
from The Journal from a hearing involving Williamston Mayor Phillip
Clardy several weeks ago.

The hearing, held in summary court
to determine the facts of a complaint brought by Joey Griffin Jr.
against the mayor, should have been open to both the press and the
public. Instead, a reporter for The Journal was denied entry after a
court officer asked Judge Jim Busby whether the reporter could enter.
The mayor, according to Griffin, objected to the reporters
presence and entry was denied.

Judge Devine conceded that the
ruling was in error, adding that the summary court rooms are
unusually small, and the judge had no notice of the reporters
attendance. If he had known you wanted to be there, he could
have made accommodations, said Devine in a telephone
conversation several days after the hearing. Nevertheless,
that doesnt change our policy, which is that trials and
hearings are open, as prescribed by law.

The hearing came as a result of a
civil complaint by Griffin about what he claimed was a loan of
approximately $4300 to the mayor to be used in efforts to keep the
mayors restaurant open. Griffin claimed the money was loaned to
the mayor; Mayor Clardy claimed it was a gift from Griffin, who was
working for the town as a reserve police officer at the time.

Judge Busby ruled in Griffins
favor and ordered Clardy to repay the money within the next year.

Review
of ledger reports cited as reason for delay County Administrator says

By Stan Welch

For years, District Seven County
Councilwoman Cindy Wilson has argued that the Countys weekly
general ledger reports are withheld from her as the result of a
purposeful act by County Administrator Joey Preston.

Preston recently confirmed
Wilsons charges under oath. In a deposition taken last month,
Preston conceded that the GLR 110 reports are sent to him for review
before being released to Wilson. Wilson has long claimed that her
efforts to obtain the reports, which even Preston concedes under oath
are public record, have been deliberately thwarted by Preston.

It is that inability to obtain
public records that led Wilson to file the writ of mandamus suit
earlier this year. Wilson, prior to her election in 2001, was
involved in an adversarial legal action against the county. That
action was intended to challenge and stop the construction of the
Beaverdam Sewer Project, which impacted land belonging to several
members of Wilsons family, as well as a number of other
property owners. Wilson ran for the County Council as a direct result
of the events surrounding the Beaverdam project.

Upon election, Wilson sought
access to the legal vendor files, or records of the fees paid by the
county to various law firms, including the one representing the
county in the Beaverdam matter. Preston claimed that providing such
information, especially the narratives describing strategies and so
forth would breach the attorney/client privilege. Wilson eventually
conceded the point and agreed not to seek that specific information.

She did however continue to ask
for the other legal vendor files, repeatedly stating her opinion that
the County should hire its own in house attorney and retain other law
firms only when their specific services were needed. Preston, with
the support of the majority of Council, continued to refuse access,
claiming that the attorney/client privilege justified his actions.

Wilson has also repeatedly sought
access to the routine financial records of the County, such as the
GLR110 reports, which record the countys weekly expenditures,
as well as the GLR153 reports, which reflect the broader picture of
the countys overall financial activities. Preston denied those
reports as well, leading Wilson to add them to the writ of mandamus
suit filed late last year.

It was during the long delayed
deposition in preparation for that suit that Preston conceded that he
has knowingly delayed Wilsons access to the reports. Said
Preston, when asked if there was any inherent problem within the
Countys system that would delay Wilsons access, Ms.
Wilson has been adversary to the county since she was elected.
And when we produce these reports and hand them over to her, she will
and continues to use anything in there that may be to  to use
it to hurt the county in some way. And what we  what I like to
do is review them with my staff occasionally and to see if
theyre  to try and anticipate what she may try to do to us.

Preston later testified that he
reviewed the GLR110s as quick as I can and I present them to
her. When asked if it was solely up to him as to when
information would be released, Preston referred to an ordinance
passed by county council which outlines his duties and responsibilities.

When asked if he drew up that
ordinance, Preston denied that, saying that the county attorney had
done so. The guy you hired? asked Wilsons attorney,
Jay Bender. Yes, sir, said Preston.

In a separate deposition
taken in preparation for the same writ of mandamus hearing, County
Finance Director Rita Davis stated that no other member of the
current County Council, except for Wilson, had ever asked for the
GLR110 or 153 reports. In fact, according to Davis, even Preston
didnt begin reviewing the reports until Wilson began asking for them.

Daviss testimony also
shed some light on the Countys Freedom of Information policy.
According to her, Council members would have to go through Preston to
obtain information, unless they made the request under the FOIA, in
which case they would have to be charged. The SC Freedom of
Information act allows for reasonable charges to be made, but they
are not required. The charging of an elected official for such
information would be unusual, though Wilson has at times been charged
substantial amounts to receive information.

Davis also testified that the
finance department has provided Wilson with thousands of pages of
information over the years, and that Wilsons requests can be
burdensome for her department to comply with. She did, however,
concede that the GLR110 reports can be produced simply and
efficiently, and are normally generated on Tuesdays.

The writ of mandamus hearing is
expected to proceed relatively quickly now that depositions have been achieved.

Wilson
speaks out on recent Preston deposition

By Stan Welch

Councilwoman Cindy Wilson was
asked recently to respond to statements made by county administrator
Joey Preston in his recent deposition given in preparation for a writ
of mandamus hearing (See related story elsewhere in this issue).

One of the statements, remarkable
for its content, drew a particularly strong response from Wilson, who
shares a long history of prickly relations with Preston. Preston
stated that Wilson has been adversary to the county since she
was elected.

Asked to respond to that charge,
Wilson did so at length. Is it adversarial to perform the
duties of your office, according to state code? If its
adversarial to be the only council member on this Council to ask to
see the weekly general ledger reports, then I guess thats what
I am.

Wilson defended her persistence in
seeking information about the Countys regular operations.
If the Council had been looking into these things all along,
the recent acquisitions of two tracts of land at a cost of well over
a million dollars wouldnt have come as such a surprise. There
was no vote to buy those properties, or to name the park after Dolly
Copper. Those are decisions Mr. Preston took on himself, and I
believe he did so improperly. So he considers me adversary.

Preston stated in his deposition,
and Wilson confirmed it, that an actual resolution was passed by
County Council which stated that Wilson is adversarial to the County.
The Journal has so far been unable to locate that document, but has
filed an FOIA request with the Clerk to County Council.

Wilson added that the money spent
on those properties represents two mills in taxes, and would have
gone a long way towards helping Sheriff Crenshaw obtain his budget
requests. Crenshaw had sought a six mill increase to fund his
department for this year; he received three in a budget compromise. A
mill was valued at approximately $513,000 under this years
budget figures.

Preston also stated that, aside
from Wilson, no other Council members have ever questioned the
Countys expenditures on legal, engineering or consultant
services. He also conceded that he does delay providing Wilson with
the types of records that are at the heart of the current legal
dispute So that we can be prepared for what shes going to
throw at us next.

Wilson responded in turn by saying
that the council should take a greater interest. Since we have
no audit, and the council refuses to ask any real questions about the
Countys finances, Mr. Preston can rely on his staffs
figures being accepted. It is tragic to watch old folks in this
county being taxed out of their homes. Its time in this country
to start at the bottom of government and go right up the ladder to
bring common sense and honesty back to government finance. If our
citizens have to exercise financial restraint and common sense in
their own homes, they certainly have a right to expect it of us.

She also questioned Prestons
focus on opposing her efforts.  Instead of ridiculing and
demagoging elected officials who ask proper questions, he should be
concentrating on doing his job instead of protecting it.

She again chided the other council
members for their willingness to accept Prestons answers
without question. When the day finally comes that we ask for
and get a complete forensic audit, theyll wish they had asked
these questions all along. They consider it a negative, but to me,
you ask questions, get situations straightened out, and then you have
made a positive.

Anderson
District One rated excellent on State Report Card

Anderson School District One was
one of three districts in the state to receive both an excellent
absolute rating and an excellent improvement rating on state report
cards issued recently.

District One has maintained an
excellent report card rating for the past four consecutive years
during a time of increasingly rigorous state and federal mandates.

We were very pleased with
our report card rating, Superintendent Dr. Wayne Fowler said.
This excellent rating was achieved at a time when the
Education Oversight Committee has raised the criteria for excellence
and added PACT science and social studies. We monitor our progress
and realize there are challenges ahead. We continue to set higher
expectations and raise the bar for our students and they continue to
perform. The level of commitment by the administrators,
teachers, students and parents to academic growth should be
celebrated, he said.

The teamwork displayed at
all levels within the district has provided the foundation for excellence.

Any success evidenced
through the score comes from a joint effort between the district and
schools working together. Professional development offers
opportunities for teachers to learn new strategies to keep students
engaged in learning, said Jane Harrison, Director of Elementary
Education. Given that PACT provides no diagnostic feedback,
Edutest, a computer based assessment is utilized to provide each
school with valuable feedback to better assist teachers in making
instructional decisions for the students. We continue to monitor our
progress and realize there are challenges ahead as the criteria
continues to rise one-tenth each year until 2014. Anderson District
One is committed to meet the challenges ahead.

In addition to the great
work being done by the teachers in the classrooms, it must be noted
that the building-level administrators are the instructional leaders
of our schools. The days of principals and assistants being
thought of as managers in their settings are gone. Our district
and school report cards readily reflect the dedication to curriculum
and instructional issues demonstrated by our schools
administrative teams, added John Pruitt, Director of Secondary Education.

Obviously for a school
district to maintain a report card rating of excellent for four years
in a row, school faculty and parents must dedicate themselves to
instructional improvement year in and year out. Anderson Ones
ability to retain and recruit highly qualified teachers is a critical
factor in the districts success. Anderson District Ones
teachers want to make a difference each day by providing meaningful
experiences and activities that challenge our students to meet their
academic goals, states David Havird, Associate Superintendent.

The report card gives only a
snapshot of the district and each individual school. Ratings are
based on PACT scores for grades 3-8. High school ratings are based on
HSAP scores, graduation rates and the percentage of students
qualifying for LIFE scholarships.

Greenville
County teachers nationally certified

Forty-nine teachers in Greenville
County Schools have been notified by the National Board for
Professional Teaching Standards that they earned National Board
Certification, one of the professions most respected
achievements. With the addition of the new recipients, Greenville
County now boasts 322 National Board Certified teachers, more than 33 states.

Its exciting to see
increasing numbers of Greenville County teachers setting these high
professional and personal standards, said District
Superintendent Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher. The National Board
Certification process allows teachers to evaluate and improve their
teaching abilities, resulting in enhanced teaching and learning in
our classrooms.

Teachers seeking National Board
Certification undertake a two-part process that takes from one to
three years to complete. The process requires candidates to reflect
on their classroom practices, their understanding of subject material
and their preparation techniques. In addition to preparing a
portfolio with videotapes of classroom teaching, lesson plans,
student work samples and reflective essays, teachers must complete
assessment center exercises based on content knowledge that proves
they have mastered the subjects they teach and must also know how to
teach them.

Successful NBC candidates in South
Carolina receive a $7,500 pay increase for every year up to 10 years
that they teach after receiving National Board Certification.

Crossroads
Family Practice opens in Powdersville

Dr. William M. Scott, MD is now
accepting new patients at Crossroads Family Practice located at Hwy.
153 in Powdersville.

The specialty practice provides
medical and health care to all ages. Dr. Scott is trained in all
aspects of adult and pediatric medicine. They focus on the
prevention, diagnoses and treatment of illness.

The goal at Crossroads
Family Practice is to serve patients in a caring and professional
manner while in a comfortable and efficient setting.

The building is specifically
designed for a comprehensive medical practice. We felt it
suited our needs ideally, Dr. Scott said.

The practice features an
electronic medical record system, ensuring health information is
readily accessible. The system also tracks necessary healthcare
screenings based on a personal profile.

Prescriptions can be
electronically transmitted to a pharmacy.

The facililty has an on site
laboratory which can perform most all tests. More complex tests can
be performed with a 24-hour turnaround. Lab results are automatically
transmitted into personal electronic medical records.

Patients who need to be seen
urgently without an appointment are encouraged to call the office for
a walk-in time.

Dr. Scott is well known in the
Easley area, where he practiced for 25 years before opening his own
family practice in Powdersville. It was a great opportunity to
come into a growing area, Dr. Scott said.

He performed his family practice
residency at the Greenville Hospital System from 1977 to 1980. He is
a 1977 graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina,
Charleston and a graduate of The Citadel, with a Bachelor of Science
in Physics, 1969.

He is board certified by the
National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Family Practice.

He will be joined by Dr. Daniel
Lee, who will operate a satellite orthopedics office at the facility.

Dr. Scott is available seven days
a week, 24 hours a day by calling the switchboard at Palmetto Health
Baptist Hospital in Easley at 864-552-7200.

Crossroads Family Practice sees
patients by appointment and walk-in. The office is open Monday
through Friday, 8 a. m to 5 p. m. and Wednesdays from 3 p. m to 5 p. m.

The office is open extended hours
Monday - Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a. m. to 2 p.
m. for appointments and urgent care visits.

Crossroads Family Practice is
located on Hwy. 153, Powdersville. For more information call 295-1294.

Piedmont
park to get swings, shelter

The Tom C. Pack memorial ballfield
in Piedmont will be getting new equipment including a new two bay
swing set, a picnic shelter and a storage container. The improvements
totaling $16,834, were approved by the Piedmont Public Service
District Board of Commissioners during their regular meeting Monday,
November 21. The improvements for are being funded by a $17,000 PART
grant the District was awarded.

After some discussion on whether
they needed a 20 ft. storage unit or a 40 ft. unit, Commissioners
decided to purchase a 20 ft. container to be used for storage from
Mobile Storage Group, Hwy. 184, Piedmont, for $1,800. They also
decided to purchase a two bay swing set from Cunningham Associates,
Charlotte, N. C. for $7,734.95. The set will include a totler and a
handicapped swing and two regular swings. Construction of a16x32
picnic shelter with shingles was awarded to PeeWee Williams for $7,300.

Commissioner Glenn asked for the
report to begin showing the number of medical calls that come through
the EMS system compared to local calls. Most of the calls are from
EMS district secretary Craig Lawless said. There was some discussion
about purchasing gas at a location with lower prices.

The Board then went into executive
session to discuss a personnel matter. The Piedmont Public Service
District Board of Commissioners will not meet in December.

Wren
sewer transfer could bring grocery store to area

The transfer of a sewer system
serving Wren area schools to Anderson County may allow developers to
bring a new grocery store to the area sometime in the future.

At the recommendation of
Superintendent Dr. Wayne Fowler, Anderson School District One Board
of Trustees unanimously approved the transfer of the system to the
county during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday.

The 9-year-old sewer system owned
and operated by Anderson School District One includes two pump
stations and collection lines located along Hwy. 17 in the Wren area.

The lines connect with the Western
Carolina Sewer System for treatment.

The system serves Wren Elementary
and Wren Middle schools, according to Dr. Fowler, who has been in
negotiations on the project with the developer and Anderson
County for about a year.

Fowler said the system was
constructed to serve the two rural schools because there wasnt
a system in place at the time, a problem the area still faces.
We didnt have a suitable sewer system for the
population, he said.

Dr. Fowler said he was approached
by a developer interested in building a strip mall or grocery at the
corner of Wren School Road and that he had turned down several proposals.

I told them if they
could come up with a way to get us (the school district) out of
the sewer business, I would be interested, Dr. Fowler said.
They offered to upgrade the pump stations, but I told them no
because we would still have the system.

The deal is contingent upon
Anderson County accepting the system.

Fowler said that Vic Carpenter,
Director of the Countys Environmental Services Division, said
that Anderson County is willing to accept the schools system
into the county system provided it is upgraded to meet their specs.

Carpenter says the ball is in the
developers court.  The time frame is up to them to
decide. We have no deadline for accepting the pump stations and the
lines into the county system. Whenever they bring them up to county
standards, we will verify that and accept the transfer. Theres
two pump stations and approximately 10,000 feet of line, all of which
has been fairly well maintained. I wouldnt anticipate any
problem with this getting done.

According to Fowler, the
developer, Nalley Construction Company of Easley, agreed to pay for
necessary upgrades required by the County.

They will upgrade both pumps
and install one of their own, Fowler said.

The developer offered to pay up to
$10,000 to upgrade the Wren Middle pump station. Dr. Fowler said the
engineer who designed the original system said the work could be done
for less than that.

I saw this as a win-win
situation for the District, the developer and the County,
Fowler told Board members Tuesday.

There was some discussion among
board members about right of way or easements necessary for access to
the pump stations, which are on School District property.

One pump station is located near
the Wren football field and access includes 520 ft. of road to the
pump station which is located on a 40x50ft. area. The Wren Middle
station has 155 ft. of access and is on a 30x35 ft. area.

Developer Wes Nalley of Nalley
Construction Company in Easley, said there are no definite plans for
a center and that the development is still in the first stages of
consideration but the transfer of the sewer system to the county
could allow a project.

Without the agreement by the
school district to transfer the lines, and the County to maintain
them, there would have been no development, said Nally. We
have agreed to upgrade one of the pump stations and to do some
maintenance work on another, to bring them to county standards. They
will then maintain them from there on out.

Plans for the 19 acre tract are
open ended at this time, says Nally. We have no signed leases,
nothing set at this time. We bought the property to develop it, and
we hope that a community shopping center with a major supermarket
will be the direction we go in. But for me to say that is going to
happen for sure would be a lie right now.

The property being considerd for
development is located at the corner of Hwy. 81 and Wren School Road.

PERC
to offer flu shots

The Piedmont Emergency Relief
Center (PERC) and New Horizons Family Health Services, Inc. have
partnered to make flu and pneumonia shots available December 8, from
1p.m. to 5 p.m. at the PERC office in the Piedmont Community
Building, 3 Main Street, Piedmont.

The local relief organization
makes available donated food and other items to persons in the
Piedmont area who are in need. PERC recently joined with Angel Food
Ministries offering a box of food for $25. Other specials are offered
each month. Individuals and local businesses are invited to sponsor a
box of food that can be given to a needy family, organizers said.

The Piedmont Emergency Relief
Center is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on
Saturday from 9 to noon. Organizers are in the process of develping a
board of directors and building a volunteer base.

For more information on programs
offered or to volunteer with PERC contact Program Director Jed
Daughtry at 906-7351. Information on PERC can also be found their new
website at www.piedmonterc.org.

Piedmont
deaths being investigated

Greenville County Sheriffs
Department investigators continue trying to piece together the events
that led one of their deputies to discover a small child alone in a
home with the bodies of a man and woman last week. The two, Claudia
and Juan Carlos Martinez, were husband and wife.

Claudia Martinez, 21, was killed
by multiple gunshot wounds, while Juan Carlos, 27, was killed
by a single gun shot wound and multiple stab wounds, according to
Greenville County Deputy Coroner Mike Ellis. Ellis estimated the time
of death for both victims as between 1 and 5 p.m. on Monday. Both
deaths have been ruled homicides. The bodies were found in separate
rooms within the house. Autopsies were performed.

A deputy responded to the
address at 932 Piedmont Highway after an area day care called to say
that two children had not been picked up at the end of the day
Monday, November 21. The deputy arrived at the address and saw
another small child look out the window.

The deputy opened the
unlocked front door, and saw what appeared to be blood. He retrieved
the child, whose name and age have not been released, and left the
home, at which time he called for backup. The name and age of the
child left at the day care has also been withheld.

The three children, all 5
years old or younger, were placed in the custody of DSS; although a
police spokesman indicated that there is a family member in the area
who had expressed interest in taking care of the children.

Piedmont
resident charged in Conestee murder

A Piedmont man has been charged
with murder in the death of a Conestee man. According to the
Greenville County Sheriffs Office, Allan Lee Hawkins, 25, 111
Morningwood Lane, Piedmont, was charged in connection with the death
of David Earl Gilbert, 66, 17 Fourt Ave, Conestee.

Authorities went to Gilberts
residence November 22 after receiving reports of gunfire and found
the man with a gun shot wound to his chest.

Meth
lab busted

The Anderson County Sheriffs
Office Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team (ACE) discovered a meth
lab operating in West Pelzer and made an arrest Tuesday.

William Anthony Alewine, 33, 113A
Whippoorwill Lane, West Pelzer, was arrested and charged with
manufacturing methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine,
possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and
simple possession of marijuana.

During a search of the premises,
authorities discovered three bag or mobile meth
labs along with one lab operating within the home.

According to a press release from
the Anderson County Sheriffs Office, other related items found
include seven flammable containers, four containers of corrosive
materials, one container of miscellaneous methamphetamine material,
one 55-gallon drum and one 32-gallon drum of waste material from
manufacturing methamphetamines.

Alewine is being held at the
Anderson County Detention Center.

Deputies
investigate thefts, missing person

Anderson County Sheriffs
Deputies investigated several thefts, a fight in which a student was
injured and a missing person report during the previous week. Among
incidents investigated:

PELZER

Nov. 15  Deputy D.W. Davis
investigated a complaint from Alicia Christina that she had been
threatened at a child care location where she was picking up her stepchildren.

Nov. 16  J. M. Roberts
investigated a complaint of shoplifting at the Bi-Lo supermarket.
Store manager Marshall Creamer reported that he had observed Timothy
Michael Worley leave the store with 10 steaks and some batteries he
had not paid for. Worley, 39, of Pendleton, was in the store office
when Roberts arrived. He was taken into custody and transported to ACDC.

Nov. 25  D. P. Hodges
responded to 10 Lopez St., where Terry Solesbee reported that forced
entry had been attempted into the house. The peephole in the back
door had been pushed out and the door had been damaged, but entry was
not made. A latch on an outbuilding at the address had been pried
off, but Solesbee was unsure if anything had been taken.

Nov. 26  J.L. Bergholm
investigated a complaint of malicious damage to property at 23 Lyman
St., where Sylvia Upchurch stated that someone had shot out the
passenger side window of her car. Damage was estimated at $200.

Nov. 26 - J. J. Jacobs
investigated a complaint at 214 Old River Road, where Michael Hicks
reported that someone had shot his house with orange paintballs,
damaging the vinyl siding and marking the house. Damage was estimated
at $1000.

Nov. 27  J. J. Jacobs
observed a red 1998 GMC pickup with SC tag #881RVR traveling on
Cherokee Rd. He stopped the vehicle as part of an investigation into
a larceny committed at another location. The driver, Miguel Miranda,
was found to be driving under suspension 2nd offense. He was arrested
and transported to ACDC.

PIEDMONT

Nov. 14  A student at
Wren High School was badly beaten by a classmate in an incident that
led to the assailants arrest and removal from the school. Both
students names are withheld because they are minors. According
to the report filed by G. M. Hayden, school resource officer at Wren
High School, the victim received a cut under the right eye, a
contusion that closed his left eye, and lost two teeth. The suspect
said that the victim had been running his mouth about
him. He challenged the victim to a fight, and when the victim
refused, he punched him, knocking him to the ground, where he punched
him several more times. The victim was eventually taken by his mother
for medical treatment. The suspect was treated for an injury to his
hand and eventually turned over to the Department of Juvenile
Justice. He was charged with disturbing school and assault and
battery of a high and aggravated nature.

Nov. 14  R. J. Murphy
investigated a complaint of breaking into a motor vehicle at 107
Assembly Drive. Jon Nowack reported that he had left his truck at the
Waffle House at that location to ride to a job site with a client.
Upon returning, he found the window broken, and $200 cash, a company
check book, and a bottle of prescription medicine missing.

Nov. 16  G. J. Turner
assisted a Greenville County Sheriffs Deputy when a call for
assistance escalated to an Officer needs help call.
Turner received authorization to go to the aid of Deputy Szymanski,
at an apartment complex at 205 Saluda Dr.. Szymanski had one suspect,
Kenneth Williams, 43, in custody and was handcuffing another suspect,
a black female. Szymanski had been pursuing the suspects vehicle when
they went to the apartment and attempted to enter Unit 11. Reports
state a bag of what proved to be marijuana was under the car,
where it had been allegedly thrown by the suspects. Williams
eventually allowed the apartment to be searched where more marijuana
and other materials were found. The two suspects were taken back to
Greenville County where they were charged with several drug offenses.

Nov. 16  T.B. Dugan arrested
Kevin Smith, 18, of 15 King St. after he threatened his
grandmother with a knife.

Nov. 25  P. N. Turner
received a report of a missing person from Donald Gilstrap, of 1910
Elrod Rd. He reported that his wife, Frankie Gilstrap was missing.
She is a WF, 58, 44", 200 pounds, with waist length red
hair and brown eyes. She was last seen at Rock Springs Baptist Church
in Easley, but was confused and could not say why she was there. The
pastor called Gilstrap and left a message. She is on medication for
manic depression and did not have her medicine with her. She had her
small white dog with her, and was driving a 2000 KIA Sophia 4 dr.
with SC tag # 630-DRV. She was wearing a dark sweat shirt and sweat
pants. Anyone with information should call the Anderson County
Sheriffs Department.

Nov. 23  T. B. Dugan
investigated two incidents involving exploding plastic bottles. The
first was at 211 Cotton Gin Rd., where Steven Dover reported hearing
two sounds like a car backfiring during the early morning. Dover
later found three plastic bottles in his yard. Two had exploded, the
other had not. It was shot by Dugan with a .22 rifle to release any
pressure inside. An hour and a half later, he responded to a call
from 115 Madison Ridge Rd., where William Miller reported that his
mailbox had been blown off the post and the back of the mailbox blown
out by a plastic bottle that exploded.

WILLIAMSTON

Nov. 26  J. J. Jacobs
received a report of burglary from Chad Hopkins, who reported that
his mini warehouse unit located at Hwy. 29 Mini-Storage, had been
broken into. The padlock had been cut off.

Nov. 27  M. D. Creamer
responded to 1035 Welcome Road, where Cheryl Wilkerson reported that
her home had been broken into. A number of various items, from CDs to
a blood pressure kit, as well as a number of tools, were stolen.

Survey
shows officials not conducting business openly

A quarter of elected officials in
a statewide survey say theyve broken state law by letting their closed-door
session stray beyond what they promised the public they would
discuss while out of sight and earshot.

But public officials were
agreeable to a solution that may keep them from breaking that promise
in the future: signing sworn statements that they dont stray
when the public isnt there to hold them accountable.

Those are two key findings of an
audit of board and council practices by The Associated Press, South
Carolina Press Association and newspapers.

Nearly 200 county council and
school board members responded to the 13-question survey. The survey
is not a poll or a scientific sampling that would suggest what the
typical public official would do, but it does reflect how
participants say they handle the privilege state law grants them to
discuss some of the publics business in private.

Executive sessions are puzzling
enough to citizens trying to observe how their elected officials
handle taxpayers business.

Last month, Cindy and Doug Myers
went to their first Abbeville County Council meeting as they tried to
prevent rezoning of property across the street from their home. They
found themselves waiting in the hall while the council went into
executive session to discuss personnel and economic development issues.

Anything that needs to be
said should be said in public, Doug Myers said.
Theyre discussing public things, things that involve the
public. I dont see why they should have a closed-door session
at all.

In Abbeville, just asking the
questions about executive sessions produced blank stares and flat refusals.

Two county council members agreed
to take the survey. One did but a reporter was later told to destroy
the responses. Given a second chance a couple of weeks later, all the
members refused after the countys lawyer warned them to be
careful about their answers.

In Newberry County, 20-year county
council veteran Henry Summer said the surveys questions would
force him to compromise discussions shielded from the public.
Its kind of like saying youre committing adultery
on your wife, Summer told a reporter. Its not a
yes or no question.

The law, however, is
straightforward. It allows executive sessions for very limited
purposes, such as discussing why a specific employee lost a job or
how to lure an economic development project. The law also says public
bodies have to vote in open session on the specific reason
theyre going behind closed doors. Any other voting they do has
to wait until they return to public view.

No matter. Public bodies routinely
usher out taxpayers by merely saying theyre going to discuss
personnel issues or a legal matter, offering
no details underlying those broad labels.

State Attorney General Henry
McMaster said public bodies must be specific. The public needs
to know the issues that are being handled in executive
session, McMaster said. Its part of building and keeping
citizens trust, he said. If officials break that trust,
the public loses all confidence in the public body,
McMaster said.

The public may have reason to be
less than confident. Survey results show a quarter of the school
board and county council members have participated in an executive
session where a topic other than the one specified was discussed.

Often we move to go into
executive session for legal matters but, once in, will take up
personnel matters or economic development matters, said George
H. Smokey Davis, a Lexington County Council member for
nine years.

Sandra Engelman, with two years on
the Charleston County School Board, said shes seen her board
stray, too.

The school board has a
tendency to start talking about issues and items not listed on the
agenda, she said. The board doesnt get time to
discuss such issues during a regular meeting, and they come up during
executive sessions.

Sometimes it is human nature
to get off the subject, but we get back on it, said Jerry
Oakley, who has been on Georgetown County Council for more than two years.

Mike Cone, executive director of
the South Carolina Association of Counties, says he doesnt
think officials are deliberately breaking the law. Its
sometimes difficult to keep people on topic, he said.

Paul Krohne, executive director of
the South Carolina School Boards Association, said hes been in
executive sessions when the conversation strayed and has seen leaders
pull the discussion back on track. Its never a deliberate
attempt to talk about areas outside of the announced reason for an
executive session, its just the nature of
conversation, he said.

The law, doesnt have
an exception for the nature of conversation,
McMaster said. Compliance with the law requires some precision
and discipline and determination.

In Georgia, legislators have added
another element: accountability. Public officials there must sign
affidavits swearing they didnt break the law in closed-door
sessions by taking up undisclosed topics. In South Carolina, more
than two-thirds of the surveyed board and council members said they
would not object to signing that type of statement.

I dont see the need to
have them sign an affidavit to that effect, Cone said. Broad
support for the notion probably is indicative of the fact that
they are not abusing executive sessions, he said.

I dont know if
thats a really good way to function as a public body,
Krohne said.

School boards and county councils
took starkly different views on another accountability concept:
Should audio recordings be made of executive sessions so a judge
could later deal with challenges that might arise about what was
discussed? Among school board members, 71 percent disagreed with that
idea. Among county council members, 54 percent disagreed.

That idea is the greatest
thing I have ever heard, said Clyde Livingston, a 10-year
veteran of Orangeburg County Council.

Cheryl Mushrush, in her third year
on the Dorchester District Four school board, disagreed.

People have a tendency not
to express themselves as openly or candidly when they know
theyre being taped, even if you tell them only a judge will
hear it, she said.

McMaster maintains that the public
meeting room is the place for candor. If officials dont have
enough confidence in their positions to talk about them openly in
public, its probably a pretty sorry position, he said.

Cone says there are concerns about
how audio recordings would be secured. Once you tape, it can
easily get into other hands and it has, he said.

Public bodies dont keep
minutes in closed-door sessions because decisions arent made
there, Krohne said. He wondered what good a tape would do. It is
almost as if youre assuming things are going on, he said.

Thats actually what often
happens, according to the survey. Forty percent of the school board
members and a third of the council members said they thought their
counterparts on other panels made decisions in secret.

Ultimately, the public has
to believe their elected officials arent breaking the law in
executive session, McMaster said.

But if they are determined
to retreat to some smoke-filled back room, theres very little
we can do short of voting them out of office to protect
ourselves, the attorney general said.

Cone agrees. If the public
feels theyve been let down, he said, the resolution
to that is the ballot box at the next election.